WHO: Situation Related to Coronavirus Spread in Syria Dangerous

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the situations which are related to the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in Syria are dangerous as the country represents a destination for visiting religious shrines.

Interviewed by Newsmaker Program on Russia Today T.V. Channel on Thursday, Acting WHO Representative in Syria , Dr. Nima Saeed Abid said that a little number of infections have been registered till now including two deaths of the novel coronavirus on the Syrian territories in general, but “we consider the situation as dangerous for two reasons, the first of which is that almost all of the detected cases have been for citizens who returned from abroad which means that their number might be larger.”

He noted that the second reason lies in the fact that Syria enjoys a very important status as it hosts two honorable shrines, namely the shrine of Sayyidah Zaynab and the shrine of Sayyidah Ruqayyah in Damascus, and they are a destination for many visitors from the countries of the region where the pandemic appeared on a large scale, especially Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan.

Saeed Abid added that the entry of the virus into Syria is very possible and this matter has already occurred, warning that the effects of the pandemic will be high as a result of the exceptional circumstances which the country has passed through over the past nine years.

On Wednesday, Saeed Abid affirmed in an interview with SANA that the reality of the coronavirus cases in Syria is in beginning of the curve rise and the increase or decrease in the number of the cases depends on how much citizens are committed to the measures taken by the government for curbing the virus outbreak.

He expressed optimism over Syria’s ability to tackle the virus and to prevent its spread despite of the difficult circumstances which it is passing through due to war which has dragged on for about ten years.

Saeed Abid noted that the WHO is working for lifting the coercive measures imposed on Syria which affect the health sector, and it strongly calls for achieving that.